Care should be taken when using this value domain as it presents the Australian states/territories in an order different to those most commonly used by agencies such as the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).

The state/territory order presented in this value domain is known to be used in the underlying information systems of the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), and possibly reflects the historical data management practices of some Canberra-based Commonwealth government agencies, whereby Canberra (and by extension, the ACT) was considered to represent something like 'Central office' or 'Head office'.

Agencies such as the ABS and AIHW publish data in state/territory order based on population.

The ABS-preferred order (NSW, Vic., Qld, SA, WA, Tas., NT and ACT) reflects historic relative state/territory populations and has been retained by the ABS to preserve continuity of presentation and minimise the risk of error in the handling or interpreting of data.

Australian Bureau of Statistics. Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS): Volume 1 - Main Structure and Greater Capital City Statistical Areas, July 2011. ABS cat. no. 1270.0.55.001. Canberra: ABS.